Wax distributing applicator



E- 25, 1951 w. J. LUNDBERG WAX DISTRIBUTING APPLICATOR Filed Sept. 14,1948 f 27 INVENTOR. 5 'MLL am J. Lam/0552s HTTO/EWEY Patented Dec. 25,"1951 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE 2,579,842 WAX DISTRIBUTING APPLICATORWilliam J. Lundberg, Warren Point, N.

Application September 14, 1948, Serial N 0. 49,281

3 Claims.

My invention relates to applicators and more particularly to applicatorsfor applying and distributing wax and the like to the cloth receivingsurfaces of screen printing tables.

In screen printing, the top of the table is usually provided with afabric or padding on which the cloth to be printed is attached and heldin fixed relation therewith during screen printing operations. In orderto secure the cloth to the padding in a manner to permit ready removalof the cloth from the table after printing, a plastic material, forinstance wax, is employed and which material is distributed over thecloth receiving surface of the padding in a somewhat pliable conditionto insure retention of the cloth to the table and its ready removalthereafter.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an applicator fordistributing plastic material or the like over the surface of thepadding of a screen printing table in order that the cloth to be printedmay be secured to the table in fixed relation when disposed over the waxcoated padding.

Another object of my invention is to provide an applicator of theforegoing described character equipped with means for heating the wax orthe like in order that the same may be evenly distributed over thefabric.

A further object of my invention is to provide an applicator of theforegoing described character provided with means whereby the wax or thelike is heated to a-predetermined degree for distribution.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an applicator ofthe foregoing described character equipped with means for automaticallylimiting the heating of the wax or the like to a predetermined degree.

An important object of my invention is to provide an applicator of theforegoing described character which is simple in construction, durablein use, efiicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings fromwhich the several features of the invention and the advantages attainedthereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention as applied to a screenprinting table.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In practicing my invention, as illustrated in the drawing, I provide ascreen printing table 5, an upper fragment thereof being illustrated asequipped with a top 6 on which is disposed a fabric or padding 1. Thetop 6 is provided with the usual lateral guide rail 8 which serves toeffect positioning of the printing frame during screen printingoperations.

In order to apply plastic material, for instance, wax to the uppersurface of the padding 1 for retaining cloth to be printed to the tableagainst displacement during such printing, I provide an applicator [0comprising a pair of spaced longitudinal side frame members or runnersll having their outer ends curved downwardly and inwardly as illustratedin Figure 2. Connected between the runners are a pair of spacedtransverse metallic tubular frame members or tubes I! which cooperatewith the runners II and the table to define a reservoir I3 for receivinga wax W. Each of the tubes I2 is secured in fixed relation at its endsto the runners and is provided with a removable screw plug [4 closing anopening in the peripheral wall and through which opening a suitable heatretaining fluid I5, for instance oil, is introduced and maintainedwithin the respective tube. Extending centrally through each of thetubes I2 is an electrical heating unit 16 having a tubular casing to theswitch mechanism by means of tubing or a pipe 2| whereby air or asuitable gas inthe chamber, when heated to a preestablished degree, iseffective for operating the switch mechanism, it being understood thatthe latter is operated to i make and break the circuit leading to theheating elements from a source of electrical energy connected tothemechanism by means of wiring 22 leading into the box I 9. Inasmuch asthe switch mechanism, heating units and the connecting components are ofan ordinary construction and form no part of the present invention perse, a detailed disclosure of the same is not deemed necessary.

The ends of the runners II are provided with handles 23 whereby thedevice may be operated over the table for distributing wax contained andheated within the reservoir l3. One of the runners H is also equippedwith a pair of roller brackets, 24 each of. which have mounted thereon apair of rollers25 embracing the rail 8 for tracking engagement therewithto effect and insure guiding of the applicator over a preestablishedpath on the table 5.

I also employ a spreader 26 which comprises a plate having an arcuatelower end section 21 conforming to the contour of the tubes l2 and whichsection 21 embraces the rearmost tube about the inner portion of itsperipheral face with respect.

to the direction of gravelgof the'applicator. The uppersection; ofjthespreader :26 extends; above the tubes and runners and is equippedyat itsupper; end with a bar 28 terminating at. its ends in a pair of handles29 or the like to facilitate removal of the spreader from between therunners, it being understood that the spreader is frictionally retainedbetween the runners and in engagement with the respective tube.Furthermore, the spreader is detached from engagement with one tube andarran ed inlike engagement with the other when the direction of travelof the applicator is reversed. The lower end of the spreader 26 extendsoutwardly and slightly beyond the lowest point on the .rearmost tube l2to provide-a space between said tube [2 and the lower end of thespreader to preclude the wax from adhering to and building up on theouter peripheral face of the rearmost tube, while the upper end of thespreader terminates in a plane above the highest point of the tube, thusthe spreader functions to insure even distribution of the wax upon thesurface of the padding and to preclude, overflowing of the wax over therear tube. as the, applicator is operated over the paddi In us,e.-assuming the applicator to be positioned upon a table over. the padding-aselected quantity of wax W is deposited Withinthe reservoir [.3 with thespreader 26 being disposed in engagement with the. rear tube withvrespect to the direction of travel of the applicator. When the wax isthus. deposited, electrical energy is. supplied for operating theheating. elements whereupon-the tubes l2. and oil [5, therein are heatedwith. the result. that the wax isheated to. a degree to obtain a desiredfluid condition thereof for spreading. When the wax is thus heated, theswitch mechanism operates in response. to the. heat within the thermalchamber of the housing 2llto break the circuit and to. close the latterwhen the temperature is materially lowered, it being understood that theswitch mechanism. is so arranged to operate in response to preselecteddegrees of temperature dependent upon the type of wax or material beingused. When the wax has thus been heated to the proper consistency forspreading, the applicator. is moved over the padding to apply and spreadthe wax thereon, it being understood that the applicator is operatedfrom one end of the table to the other and vice-versawith the spreaderbeing disposed, in each instance, in engagement with the rear tube l2 asheretofore described.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain theinvention that others may, by. applying. current knowledge, readily;adapt. the

4 same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointlysince they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsubcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein describeduse therefore as it may be utilized for any purpose to which its isadaptable. It is therefore to..be understood that the inventionis'notlimited to the specific construction as illustrated and described,as the same is only illustrative of the principles involved which arecapable, of extended application in various forms, and the inventioncomprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: I. An applicator for applying wax to the upper surfaceof a screen printing table or the like equipped with a lengthwiseextending guide, rail, comprising a frame. having a pair of spacedrunnersfor longitudinal sliding operation over said surface from one endof said tableto the other, and a pair of spaced tubular membersextending transversely with respect. to said runners and connected to-vthe latter in fixed relation therewith andwith one. of said membersconstituting a rear member in relation to the direction of operation ofsaid runners over said surface, said runners-and-said memberscooperating to define the sides of a reservoir for the/wax when saidrunners are disposed on said surface for sliding operation thereon,rollers carried by one of said runners for engaging said guide rail forguiding the applicator over said, surface, electrically heated unitsdisposed-in.said membersrespectively for heating; fluid contained in,said, members whereby wax contained in said reservoir is heated V forspreading onto; said surface, and a spreader arranged between saidrunners and having a lower arcuatesection disposed under and inengagement with said rear member to effect spreading of the wax fromsaid reservoir onto said surface. below saidrear member, said arcuatesection extending outwardly from saidreservoir andterminatingbeyond thelowest point of said rear member to preclude the wax from adhering to;said. rear 'memberduring said, operation.

2 .v Anv applicator for applying plastic material over theupper.surf-aceof a screen printing table or the; like, comprisin a framehaving a pair of spaced runners for longitudinal sliding operation oversaid. surface. from one end of said table tov theydtheniand a pair 'ofspaced members extending; transverselywith respect to said runners andconnected to the latter in; fixed relation therewith and with one ofsaid-members having an arcuatejunderfaee and constituting a rear member,in relationjto. the direction of operation. of said: runners: oversaid-v surface, said. runners and said: members cooperating to; definethe sides of a reservoir for thematerial when said runners are disposed.on, saidsurface for sliding operation thereover, heating means, dis.-posed in at least one of saidmembers forheating the material in saidreservoir, and a, spreader arranged between saidrunners. and, having. a

curved lower sectionembracingly disposed. underv and in engagement withsaid underface of said rear member to effect spreading-of the materialfrom said reservoir onto said surface below said rear member, said lowersection. having an. end portion extending outwardly-from said. reservoirand: terminating beyond and rearwardly of said rear member to;precludethe material framed-.-

hering to said rear member during said operation.

3. An applicator for applying plastic material over the upper surface ofa screen printing table or the like, comprising a frame having a pair ofspaced runners for longitudinal sliding operation over said surface fromone end of said table to the other, and a pair of spaced membersextending transversely with respect to said runners and connected to thelatter in fixed relation therewith and with said members having arcuateunderfaces and constituting front and rear members in relation to thedirection of operation of said runners over said surface, said runnersand said members cooperating to define the sides of a reservoir for thematerial when said runners are disposed on said surface for slidingoperation thereover, heating means disposed in at least one of saidmembers for heating the material in said reservoir, and a spreaderdetachably retained between said runners and having a curved lowersection embracingly disposed under and in engagement with said underfaceof said rear member to effect spreading of the material from saidreservoir onto said surface below said rear member, said lower sectionhaving an end portion extending outwardly from said reservoir andterminating beyond and rearwardly of said rear member to preclude thematerial from adhering to said rear member during said operation, saidspreader being detachable from said rear member to dispose said lowersection under said front member upon reversal of said direction ofoperation.

WILLIAM J. LUNDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 89,122 Brown Apr. 20, 1869699,307 Grippin May 6, 1902 1,831,763 Dickerson Nov. 10, 1931 2,133,390Kotcher et a1 Oct. 18, 1938 2,291,691 Caufman Aug. 4, 1942 2,301,619Davis Nov. 10, 1942 2,387,984 Eddy Oct. 30, 1945 2,400,681 Bristol May21, 1946

